Religious slaughter

Slaughter without pre-stunning (for religious purposes)

We're opposed to the slaughter of any animal without first ensuring it is rendered insensible to pain and distress.

We therefore believe that all animals should be stunned prior to slaughter. Evidence clearly indicates that slaughter without pre-stunning can cause unnecessary suffering.

What is religious slaughter?

In the UK, Jewish and Muslim communities are exempt from legal requirements to stun animals before slaughter. All Shechita (Jewish) and some Halal (Muslim) slaughter involves cutting the animal’s throat without stunning the animal first (pre-stunning).

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) Animal Welfare Update report, which was published in September 2017, revealed that 84 percent of animals slaughtered by the Halal method were stunned before slaughter.

Key welfare issues of slaughter without pre-stunning

The Farm Animal Welfare Council (now Committee) (FAWC) report on the ‘Welfare of Farmed Animals at Slaughter or Killing’ June 2003 concluded:

The level of restraint of conscious animals required for slaughter without pre-stunning was far greater than for conventional slaughter.

A large cut made across the neck of a conscious animal would “result in very significant pain and distress” before the animal loses consciousness (around 5 to 7 seconds for sheep, 22 to 40 seconds for adult cattle).

“Slaughter without pre-stunning is unacceptable and that the Government should repeal the current exemption”.

What is the RSPCA doing?

We’re pressing for law changes to improve animal welfare at slaughter. Until this occurs, we propose:

UK Jewish and Muslim communities review their slaughter practices

Meat produced from animals not stunned before slaughter should be clearly labelled to allow consumer choice.